Screening of renal dysfunction among Burkitt lymphoma survivors by novel markers.

BACKGROUND: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) represents the most common pathological type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in our region. Recently, high success rates have been achieved in BL treatment. Little is known about long-term renal dysfunction in this vulnerable group. In the present study, we tried to detect early chronic kidney diseases (CKD) among BL survivors by using novel screening modalities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: we investigated 53 children (aged 10 ± 2.8 years, 34 boys) who successfully treated for Burkitt lymphoma, based on LMB96 protocol, as "patient group" and 30 children as control. All eligible participants were subjected to history taking, physical assessment, and routine laboratory investigations including urine analysis, serum creatinine. Estimated glomerular filtration rates using new Schwartz formula (GFRCKD) were calculated and chronic kidney disease prevalence was diagnosed accordingly. Also, serum Cystatin-C (Cys-C) and neutrophil-gelatinase-associated Lipocalin (NGAL) were determined as novel markers aiming at early and accurate detection of CKD in BL survivors. RESULTS: After 18.3 ± 5.2 months of BL cytotoxic therapy completion, almost one fifth of asymptomatic BL survivors showed evidence of subclinical CKD when estimated GFRCKD (16.9%), serum Cystatin-C (15%) and serum neutrophil-gelatinase-associated Lipocalin (18.8%) were used for kidney function monitoring. This prevalence was four to fivefolds higher than that detected by routine serum creatinine screening (3.7%). Significant persistent albuminuria was diagnosed at 4/53 (7.5.3%) of BL survivors and asymptomatic hypertension was reported in 1/53 (1.9%) of them compared to none of the controls. Positive correlation could be displayed between serum Cys-C and serum NGAL. Conversely, negative correlations between both of them and estimated GFRCKD were documented. CONCLUSION: Novel modalities such new Schwartz formula (GFRCKD) estimation, serum Cys-C, and serum NGAL assessment should be incorporated in the routine follow-up screening for CKD among BL survivors for accurate diagnosis of such detrimental morbidity.

Prospective study of nephrolithiasis occurrence in children receiving cefotriaxone.

AIM: Ceftriaxone is a commonly used antibiotic among the paediatric population. Various reports have associated high doses of Ceftriaxone with the development of nephrolithiasis; our aim was to test this association with a 5 day course of treatment. METHODS: Our study group consisted of 120 patients divided into two groups. The first group included 60 patients who underwent treatment with Ceftriaxone therapy that was started empirically and continued for 5 days at the dose of 80 mg/kg per day. The second group (60 patients) who received treatment with other antibiotics (other than Ceftriaxone), as recommended by hospital protocols. Patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) were excluded as UTI may be a predisposing cause for nephrolithiasis. Baseline and follow up after 5 days were done with; abdominal ultrasound, serum urea, creatinine, serum calcium, 24 h urinary calcium and urinary calcium/ creatinine ratio. Extended metabolic tests were done for cases that developed nephrolithiasis. RESULTS: Five cases out of the 60 patients treated with Ceftriaxone developed calculi; that were small and were eliminated spontaneously in four cases at mean duration of 3 weeks. In these cases renal ultrasonography examinations were normal prior to treatment; and none of them had metabolic disturbances or risk factors leading to stone formation. By multiple regression analysis, only age was related to nephrolithiasis formation being higher in the group that has developed stones. CONCLUSION: Only patients who underwent Ceftriaxone therapy have developed renal stones, even with a short course of therapy (5 days), and in the absence of a known predisposing cause for nephrolithiasis. We have thus concluded that Ceftriaxone by itself maybe a predisposing factor for nephrolithiasis.